Portable electric arc lamp



June 2, 1931. w. R. GRUBER PORTABLE ELECTRIC ARG LAMP Filed March 18, 1930 Il l l rf! L INVENTOR l l I l /z'a/l W/ BY Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM R. GRUBER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

:PORTABLEk ELECTRIC ARC LAMP Application led March 18, 1930. Serial No. 436,691.

This invention relates to electric arc lamps, and more particularly to lamps of a portable type adapted to dispense actinic rays of light upon photographic subjects, the invention being an improvement over applicants co-pending application for patent on Photographic electric lamps, filed December 17, 1929, Serial Number 414,673.

It is well known that flash light powders, for producingr similar lighting effects, when detonated with accompanying explosions, serve to startle persons subjected to them, which are further annoyed by the fumes of the burning powder.

' Incandescent electric lamps fail of success, because they lack brilliancy and power of illumination to the required extent.

-Arc lamps, while possessing the desired attributes, have hitherto not met with favor by commercial or amateur photographers because of their unwieldiness, lack of convenient control, and ready portability.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable electric lamp of the arc type, as readily carried and maneuvered as an ordinary flash light of commercial type, which it strongly resembles in shape and appearance.

A further feature is in the provision of an arc lamp, adapted to use an ordinary house current of 110 volts, and including a resistance coil arranged within the handle as a unit therewith.

These 'and other advantageous aims, as will later appear, are accomplished by the novel design, construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a material portion of this disclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an arc lamp as made in accordance with the invention, the parts being in position for operation. I

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the invention having an exposed switch.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a further modified form of portable arc lamp.

In the preferred form, shown in Figures 1 and 2, a dielectric casing serving as a handle is designated by the numeral l0, the same being provided at one end with a cap 11, and having secured at its opposite end a thin metallic cup 12, provided with ventilating apertures 13 in its side walls.

Hingedly attached to the upper edge of the cap 12, by pivots 14, is a guard 15, provided at its lower edge with an indentation 16 to engage with a corresponding node 17 on the edge of the cup, whereby the guard is held erect when fully extended. i

Y The interior of this guard is finished with a reflecting surface for a purpose further on evident.

Fastened rigidly in the casing 10 is a hollow plug 18, having an expanded upper portion extending outwardly within the cupj 12, and provided with a. helically grooved outer surface on its expanded portion.

At the upper end of the plug 18 is an inreaching lug 19, and between it and the main portion of the plug is an opening to slidably receive and guide a rod 20, preferably of channel sha ed cross-section, the inner end of the ro .being slidable adjacently within the casing 10 to its lower end. The outer end of the rod is turned at a right angle and fashioned into a socket 21, adapted to frictionally engage, in the manner of a clutch, with a carbon rod 22, held in axial alinement with a corresponding rodl 23 set in a clutch tube 24, disposed centrally within the plug 18 through which it passes, the lower end of the tube being flanged outwardly as at 25, to engage one of the terminals of a switch 26 held rigidly in the casing 10, and through which projects its respective on7 and ol", transverse buttons 28 and 29.

Current enters the casing through conductors 30-31, passed through an opening in the cap 11, the conductor 30 being connected with a binding screw 32, set in the base of the plug 18, the screw also engaging a conductor 33 leading to a resistance coil 34 wound upon the helix of the plug, the

i upon removing the carbons 22-23, the re- Vfleeting guard 15 may be turned upon the pivots 14 Vand disposed closely adjacent the exterior of the cup 12, being foldable for that purpose. y

It will also be noted that'the perforations 13 serve to ventilate the interior of the cup, and' permit the escape of heat from the coil3'4 when in operation.

In the modified form, shown in Figure 3,2. similar casing 5G is provided with a cap l51 containing perforations 52, and having at its opposite end a Vhollow plug 53, provided on its outer side with a resistanceV coil 54, to which currentis conveyed bya conductor V55 from a binding screw 56 set in thebottom of the plug, and connected with a conductor 57 leading from one terminal of af commercial oil and fon switch 58,V disposed slightly beyond the cap 52.

' One .of the terminals of the switch 58is directly connected with a clutch tube' 59, in the upper end of which is set a carbon 60, a corresponding carbon 61 being held in a dielectric bushing 62 carried byy a rod 63, slidable through an aperture inthe outer end" 'of' the'plug 53, into the casingA 50 and to which current is connected by a spring contact 64 engaged vby a binding screw 6.5, with which. is also connected a conductor 66 leading from the opposite end of the coil 54. The outer central lportion of the plug 53 isformed conically and of a larger diameter than that. receiving thel coil 5.4, to actas a limit stop for a shell 67 slidablyiover the casing 50 and having a raised shieldl or guard portion 68, Vwhich engages and partially supports the dielectric bushing 62,r iinished` on. lits inner con-vexed` surface as a reflector.V y Y In this. typeY of lamp when the carbons 6G-6l are removed, it.v will be: obvious that theV guard element 68 may be telescopically collapsed, thereby shortening the length of the apparatus for carriage or storage.

In the device,illustrated in Figure'4, a similar casing 80 is provided atfone end with a capI 81,.v through which passes a clutch tube 82, connecting with-an on andfoif switch 83, as previously` described, the. other pole of the switch being connected. with a conductor 8.4 leading to a binding screw 85 setinthe base of a hollow dielectricpl-ug 86, rigidlysecnred'in the outer endpof the at its end. Y

lated tubular rivets 95.

engages a 'contact 89 extending nearly to the outer end of the plug 86 and outturned A cylindrical shell 90 is fixed on the outer end of the'casing 80,l and hingedly engaged to the outer rim of the shell, by pivots 91, is a guard 92 provided with an interior reiiecting surface and fixed on its "inner surface is a -rod93lspaced by a strip of insulation 94, these `elements being held by insu- Ihe lower end 96 ofthe rod 93 is curved toV make spring contact with the angular end of thevcontact 89, while its upper end is turned angularly, as at 9 7, and provided with Va socket 98 adapted to engage the upper carbon 99, a lower carbon 10() being held in the clutch tube 82.

An opening 101 is formed through the wall ofthe casing '8O to receive the lower rivet 95 when the guard 92 is turned over in the manner first described, and it will be obvious that Vthe guard 92 may be,- turnedV on Y the pivotsv 91 when the carbons are removed to fit closely against the casing 80.'

- Although I have described my improvements V'with considerable detail and with` respect to certain particular forms ofmy invention, I do not desire Vto be limited to such details sincemanyi chan es and modiications may well be made4 without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An arc lamp comprising a' dielectric casing, a carbon mounted axially therein, a second carbon, means for holding said second carbon in register with the first carbon vsaid means being foldable alongside said casing, and means for controlling current to said carbons. f

' 2. Anarc lamp comprising a dielectric casing adapted for hand manipulati'om an electric circuit in saidl casing, a pair of carbon electrodes, one of said electrodes being directly 'connected' in. the circuit, a. reflecting guard for the other electrode, and means to collapse said guard vrelative to said casing casing,l said coil having one terminal con-V nected in an electric circuit and the other terminal with said rod, a Vperforate Aguard reo enveloping said coil, and a second carbon alined with the first carbon and in engagement with said circuit.

4. An arc lamp comprising a dielectric casing adapted for hand manipulation, an electric circuit in said casing, a pair of carbon electrodes, one of said electrodes being directly connected with one of the terminals of said circuit, an insulated support for the other electrode, said support being at all times in circuit, a refiecting guard for said support, said guard being collapsible with respect to said casing upon removal of said electrodes, and operative connections between said guard and support.

5. A portable arc lamp comprising a nonconducting casing having a circuit connected therewlth, a clutch tube connected with one of the terminals of said circuit, a carbon in said tube, a second carbon movable in axial relation thereto, an insulated support for said second carbon, said support being in circuit with the first carbon, a reflector guard for the second carbon, and means to retain said guard in either of two positions.

6. A portable arc lamp comprising a nonconductin casing having a circuit connected therewith, a pair of carbons respectively inner and outer, said inner carbon being directly connected to one terminal of said circuit and the outer carbon to the other terminal therefor, a support for the outer carbon, said support being collapsible with respect to the casing, a reflector combined with said support, and means for retaining said support in either of its adjusted positions. 7. A portable electric arc lamp comprising a cylindrical dielectric casing closed at one end, a hollow dielectric plug fixed in the other end, a cup surrounding said plug, said plug having a coil Wound thereon, bindin screws fixed in said plug connected with t e terminals of said coil, a carbon electrode in electrical engagement with one terminal of said coil, a support slidable in said plug and casing in electrical engagement with one of said carbons, and a reflecting guard for said support and electrode carried thereby, said guard being collapsible with respect to said casing upon the removal of said electrodes.

8. A portable electric arc lamp comprising a cylindrical dielectric casing closed at one end, a hollow dielectric plug fixed in the other end, a cup surrounding said plug, binding screws fixed in said plug connected with the terminals of an electric circuit, a carbon electrode in electrical engagement with one terminal of said circuit, a support slidable in said plug and casing in electrical engagement with one of said screws, and a second carbon electrode carried by said support.

9. A portable electric arc lamp comprising a cylindrical dielectric casing closed at one end, a metal cup fixed on the other end, said cup being expanded in diameter and having perforate side walls, a hollow dielectric plug fixed in said casing to extend outwardly into said cup, a carbon clutch tube fixedly extending axially thru the base of said plug to move closely adjacent the inner surface of said casing, a carbon carrying socket on the inreaching outer end of said rod, a second carbon in said socket registering with the first named carbon, a guard for said rod, said guard having a reflecting semi-cylindrical inner surface, said guard being hingedly connected to the outer end of said cup to extend outwardly therefrom and to fold over said cup, means to retain said guard when extended, and a pair of binding screws in the base of said plug.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM R. GRUBER. 

